# US 2020/0400003 A1 · Single Straight-Line Connection for Hydraulic Fracturing Flowback

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- Number: US 2020/0400003 A1
- Document ID: US20200400003A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/977,457
- Filed: 2019-03-01
- Published: 2020-12-24
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-02
- Assignees: Seaboard International Inc.
- Applicants: Seaboard International, Inc.
- Inventors: Matthew Thomas Robinson Webster
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200400003A1

## CPC

- E21B 43/2607: {Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations}
- E21B 33/068: having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A frac tree coupled to a wellhead is connected to either flowback equipment or zipper modules using a single straight-line connection of pipes, valves, and/or frac iron that define a straight-line pathway for fluid, gas, or flowback materials. The disclosed single straight-line connections referenced herein may be used in pressure pumping operations to deliver hydraulic fracturing fluid (“frack fluid”) to a frac tree for delivery to a wellhead or for carrying flowback from the wellhead to a flowback-collecting equipment. Using the single straight-line connections referenced herein dramatically reduces the complexity of connections needed to deliver frack fluid to or carry flowback away from a well, thereby reducing the cost, improving the efficiency, and increasing the safety of pressure-pumping and flowback operations.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A single straight-line connection between a frac tree coupled to a wellhead and a flowback container, the flowback container comprising a first end at an inlet port, and the frac tree comprising a second end at an outlet port for dispelling flowback, the single straight-line connection comprising:
one or more pipes, wherein at least one end of the one or more pipes is connected to either the first end of the flowback container or the second end of the frac tree;
one or more valves connected to the one or more pipes,
wherein the connected one or more valves and the one or more pipes define a straight-line channel for the flowback, the straight-line channel defining a first axis at a constant height between the flowback container and the frac tree.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The single straight-line connection of claim 1, wherein the one or more valves comprise at least one of a gate valve or a plug valve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The single straight-line connection of claim 1, wherein the one or more valves are positioned between at least two of the one or more pipes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The single straight-line connection of claim 1, wherein the frac tree defines a second fluid channel for the flowback to flow from the wellhead, the second fluid channel having a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis of the single straight-line connection.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The single straight-line connection of claim 1, wherein the one or more pipes and the one or more valves are connected to form a single conduit between the frac tree and the flowback container, and the single conduit is buttressed by a support between the frac tree and the flowback container.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The single straight-line connection of claim 1, further comprising one or more pieces of frac iron connected to the one or more pipes and the one or more valves, the frac iron comprise at least one member of a group comprising: a swivel joint, pup joint, ball injector, crow's foot, air chamber, crossover, rigid hose, tee, wye, or lateral.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The single straight-line connection of claim 1, further comprising an elbow connected to a top of the frac tree for defining a curved pathway to direct flowback from the frac tree to the straight-line channel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The single straight-line connection of claim 7, wherein the elbow defines the curved path from a first end to a second end that faces 90 degrees away from the first end.

### Claim 9

A system for directing flowback from a wellhead a frac tree coupled to a wellhead to a flowback container, the system comprising:
one or more pipes, valves, or frac iron connected together along a straight line to form a first single straight-line connection between the frac tree and the flowback container,
wherein the one or more pipes, valves, or frac iron define a first internal channel for flowback that spans between the frac tree and the flowback container along only a single horizontal axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the defined first internal channel for the flowback spans between the frac tree and the flowback container at a constant height.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the frac tree comprises at one or more gate valves stacked vertically with a second internal channel defined therethrough for allowing flowback exiting the well to be directed to the first single-straight line connection.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising:
a zipper module connected to one or more manifolds for delivering frack fluid from one or more frac pumps; and
a second single straight-line connection connected to the zipper module and the frac trac and defining a second internal channel for the frack fluid to be delivered to the frac tree for supply to the well.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the flowback comprises a mixture of natural gas and cuttings from the well.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the flowback container comprises an inlet port positioned on an upper side of the flowback container and a rounded body.

### Claim 15

A flowback system for capturing flowback from a well affixed with a frac tree, the frac tree defining a vertical internal channel for the flowback exiting the well and having an exit port for directing the well along a horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical internal channel, the flowback system comprising:
a flowback container with an inlet port; and
a single straight-line connection configured to be connected to the inlet port of the flowback container and the exit port of the frac tree, the single straight-line connection comprises a connected arrangement of one or more pipes and at least one valve that together define a straight internal channel from the exit port of the frac tree to the inlet port of the flowback container for the flowback to be communicated to the flowback container.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The flowback system of claim 15, wherein the one or more pipes comprise at least two pipes that are separated and connected to the at least one valve.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The flowback system of claim 15, wherein the at least one valve comprises at least one of a gate valve or a plug valve.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The flowback system of claim 15, wherein the at least one valve is electronically actuatable by a remote computing device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The flowback system of claim 15, wherein the single straight-line connection defines the straight internal channel to have a constant height from the frac tree to the flowback container.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The flowback system of claim 15, wherein the single straight-line connection comprises has not bends or turns between the frac tree and the flowback container.